WEBVTT 00:04.283 --> 00:13.975 [SPEAKER_00]: Today, in our week-long focus on the foundations of a quality time along with God, we're going to look at the devotional peace of our time together. 00:14.015 --> 00:25.410 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm so excited to share with you our heart behind what you hear every day, and I know that our time together will help you get even more out of this space for God's presence. 00:26.231 --> 00:28.654 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:53.356 --> 01:07.052 [SPEAKER_00]: our Scripture for today comes from first John 4, verse 16, Scripture says, so we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. 01:08.233 --> 01:16.883 [SPEAKER_00]: God is love and whoever abides in love, abides in God and God abides in Him. 01:19.647 --> 01:22.019 [SPEAKER_00]: the devotional section of verse 15. 01:22.581 --> 01:28.189 [SPEAKER_00]: Begin with the belief that we need our affections for God to be constantly stirred. 01:29.097 --> 01:36.445 [SPEAKER_00]: In the chaos of life, we need a reminder of God's goodness and loving kindness towards us. 01:37.847 --> 01:46.837 [SPEAKER_00]: With all the darkness that surrounds, we need help remembering that God has overcome the world and brought us to the light. 01:48.119 --> 01:51.122 [SPEAKER_00]: This devotional exists to serve that need. 01:52.570 --> 01:56.815 [SPEAKER_00]: many wonderful and annoying to devotionals line our bookshelves. 01:57.796 --> 02:03.663 [SPEAKER_00]: We can access a seemingly limitless amount of incredible teaching available today. 02:05.085 --> 02:15.557 [SPEAKER_00]: I hope that first 15 will faithfully draw you into a daily encounter with the heart of God and fill you with a desire to know him more. 02:15.537 --> 02:21.525 [SPEAKER_00]: You were created for real, tangible relationship with God. 02:22.747 --> 02:35.605 [SPEAKER_00]: You were created with longings that cannot be satisfied until you experience the fullness of God available to you through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 02:36.766 --> 02:50.151 [SPEAKER_00]: I firmly believe that if you will simply make your heart available to be stirred up by the truth of God's nearness and love, then you will experience whatever it is you've been looking for. 02:51.650 --> 02:58.910 [SPEAKER_00]: if you will engage with the devotional section of verse 15 and open your heart that God might speak to you. 02:59.953 --> 03:07.093 [SPEAKER_00]: The Holy Spirit will guide you into an encounter with your omnipotent omnipresent creator. 03:08.677 --> 03:10.940 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs to be encountered. 03:12.062 --> 03:14.365 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for you to know his love. 03:15.787 --> 03:21.035 [SPEAKER_00]: If you will begin each day, simply seeking to meet with him for 15 minutes. 03:21.997 --> 03:28.526 [SPEAKER_00]: Your heart will soften and be stirred to live wholly centered around God's goodness. 03:29.908 --> 03:34.515 [SPEAKER_00]: Encountering God leads to life transformation. 03:34.495 --> 03:39.703 [SPEAKER_00]: Trivial things that seem to matter before will no longer matter. 03:41.005 --> 03:48.257 [SPEAKER_00]: That which robbed you of joy, purpose, and abundant life will no longer have a hold on you. 03:49.859 --> 03:52.584 [SPEAKER_00]: God's love is powerful and real. 03:53.805 --> 03:55.728 [SPEAKER_00]: His desire is for you. 03:57.051 --> 03:59.895 [SPEAKER_00]: His presence is available to you. 04:01.799 --> 04:09.328 [SPEAKER_00]: Take the next few minutes to open your heart and receive a transforming knowledge of God's love. 04:31.094 --> 04:34.472 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much. 04:57.908 --> 04:58.770 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin. 04:58.810 --> 05:02.778 [SPEAKER_00]: Reflect on the depth of God's love for you. 05:02.819 --> 05:09.994 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow Scripture to stir up your desire for God as you meditate on His Word. 05:11.729 --> 05:20.764 [SPEAKER_00]: 1 John 4 16 says, so we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. 05:22.066 --> 05:30.379 [SPEAKER_00]: God is love and whoever abides in love, abides in God and God abides in Him. 05:58.000 --> 06:21.494 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, ask the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation of His nearness. 06:22.977 --> 06:27.383 [SPEAKER_00]: Quiet your mind and open your heart to receive His presence. 06:28.240 --> 06:33.293 [SPEAKER_00]: If you have questions about God's presence, reflect on this scripture. 06:34.877 --> 06:41.414 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 139 verses 7 through 10 says, where shall I go from your spirit? 06:42.577 --> 06:45.304 [SPEAKER_00]: Or where shall I flee from your presence? 06:46.381 --> 06:49.426 [SPEAKER_00]: If I ascend to heaven, you are there. 06:50.668 --> 06:53.974 [SPEAKER_00]: If I make my bed and shield, you are there. 06:55.256 --> 07:06.195 [SPEAKER_00]: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 07:46.996 --> 07:48.739 [SPEAKER_00]: and last. 07:48.759 --> 07:55.570 [SPEAKER_00]: Take a little time to write down or reflect on how you feel after encountering God's love. 07:56.592 --> 08:05.427 [SPEAKER_00]: Reflecting on the effects of encountering God will stir up your heart towards his reality and help you seek him more often. 08:51.560 --> 09:00.658 [SPEAKER_00]: Evelyn Underhill writes, this is adoration, not a difficult religious exercise, but an attitude of the soul. 09:01.803 --> 09:06.309 [SPEAKER_00]: May all our lives be marked by an attitude of adoration. 09:07.330 --> 09:13.158 [SPEAKER_00]: May we seek to simply love God moment by moment rather than in frequent bursts. 09:14.360 --> 09:25.735 [SPEAKER_00]: And may experience in glorious union with the Holy Spirit as afforded us by Jesus' sacrifice be the foundation for all we do, think, and feel. 09:26.879 --> 09:35.269 [SPEAKER_00]: I pray that your day today would be marked by humble, simple adoration of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 09:56.613 --> 09:59.679 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:00.160 --> 10:02.144 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 10:03.145 --> 10:11.742 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to stop and reflect on different things that could stir up your affection for God. 10:12.423 --> 10:18.655 [SPEAKER_00]: It could be nature, a positive conversation, a memory, or a job well done. 10:18.770 --> 10:29.612 [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever it is, continually stirring our affections for God is absolutely critical in living the abundant life He's providing for us every day. 10:29.653 --> 10:35.665 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you see Kim.